Tredwell hopes for end to England’s horror tour

CRICKET: England is expecting another battering at the hands of Australia in the fourth ODI at the WACA tomorrow with the tourists' losing streak showing no sign of abating.

Indeed, another two losses, followed by potentially three more in the Twenty20 games to end the tour, would send the English squad back home at 0-13 for the summer and firmly in contention for the unwanted title as the country's most unsuccessful cricket team.

Demoralised captain Alastair Cook has decided to watch from the sidelines tomorrow, with the latest lamb to the slaughter, spinner James Tredwell admitting Australia was playing with total confidence.

"When they are going well they can batter you to a degree and, if we're honest, that's what they've done," Tredwell said.

"It's finding a way to push back against that.

"We have to believe, don't we? And if we don't we're just going to roll over again."

To judge this group, which has comprised 24 players across all matches, as the worst in history may be harsh but it is also a measure of how badly this tour Down Under has gone.

In 1993, England lost 10 Tests and ODIs before drawing a Test match at Nottingham against Australia.

Eight years later at home, they lost 10 matches before beating the Australians in a Test at Leeds.

The difference this time is that all the defeats have been against the same opponent which is relishing each new contest as it arrives.

One player who will certainly relish the chance to inflict more pain on the old enemy tomorrow is in-form batsman Steve Smith.

Smith will play his first one-day international in more than 12 months after being recalled to bolster the middle order in the absence of rested skipper Michael Clarke.

Smith's last visit to the WACA resulted in a century in the third Test against England and he said he was pleased to be back for another opportunity with the one-day team.

"I haven't played for a while now so hopefully I can come out and make an impact and hopefully win a couple of games for Australia," he said.

Australia will reclaim the mantle as the No.1 one-day team in the world if India loses its present series against New Zealand.